Aims and method A cross-sectional study to ascertain levels of personal and
perceived public mental illness stigma in a university student population and the
association between the respective levels of stigma and help-seeking intention. An
adaptation of the Discrimination-Devaluation scale was used.
Results A total of 735 students participated in the study (response rate 77%). There
were higher mean perceived public stigma levels than personal stigma levels.
Perceived public stigma was not significantly associated with future non-help-seeking
intention (odds ratio (OR) = 0.871, P = 0.428). Personal stigma was significantly
associated with a decreased likelihood of future help-seeking intention (OR = 1.44,
P = 0.043). Being younger than 25, having no history of or treatment for mental illness
and having no personal contact with someone with a history of mental illness were all
associated with higher personal stigma levels.
Clinical implications This study indicates that personal stigma as distinct from
perceived public stigma is a significant barrier to mental health utilisation for a
student population and future stigma reduction campaigns could strategically focus
on this.
Declaration of interest None.

Stigma of mental illness and help-seeking intention in university students 2013, 37 (8):253 The Psychiatrist

en_GB

dc.identifier.issn

1758-3209

-

dc.identifier.doi

10.1192/pb.bp.112.041483

-

dc.identifier.uri

http://hdl.handle.net/10147/304926

-

dc.description

Aims and method A cross-sectional study to ascertain levels of personal and
perceived public mental illness stigma in a university student population and the
association between the respective levels of stigma and help-seeking intention. An
adaptation of the Discrimination-Devaluation scale was used.
Results A total of 735 students participated in the study (response rate 77%). There
were higher mean perceived public stigma levels than personal stigma levels.
Perceived public stigma was not significantly associated with future non-help-seeking
intention (odds ratio (OR) = 0.871, P = 0.428). Personal stigma was significantly
associated with a decreased likelihood of future help-seeking intention (OR = 1.44,
P = 0.043). Being younger than 25, having no history of or treatment for mental illness
and having no personal contact with someone with a history of mental illness were all
associated with higher personal stigma levels.
Clinical implications This study indicates that personal stigma as distinct from
perceived public stigma is a significant barrier to mental health utilisation for a
student population and future stigma reduction campaigns could strategically focus
on this.
Declaration of interest None.

en_GB

dc.language.iso

en

en

dc.publisher

The Psychiatrist

en_GB

dc.relation.url

http://pb.rcpsych.org/cgi/doi/10.1192/pb.bp.112.041483

en_GB

dc.rights

Archived with thanks to The Psychiatrist

en_GB

dc.subject

MENTAL AND BEHAVIOURAL DISORDER

en_GB

dc.subject

SOCIAL EXCLUSION

en_GB

dc.subject

SOCIAL FACTOR

en_GB

dc.subject.other

STIGMA

en_GB

dc.title

Stigma of mental illness and help-seeking intention in university students

en_GB

dc.type

Article

en

dc.identifier.journal

The Psychiatrist

en_GB

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